Latanoprost (Ophthalmic)

Overview

Latanoprost is a medication used in the treatment of certain variations of com/health/coma/">glaucoma. It's also used in the treatment of a condition known as hypertension of the eye. This drug appears to work by lowering the pressure in the eye by increasing the amount of fluid removed from the eye. You cannot obtain this medication on your own, it is only available via a doctor prescription. This product is available in the dosage form of a solution.

Conditions treated

Increased Pressure in the Eye

Type of medication

Prostaglandin analog

Side effects

Alongside the necessary effects of this drug, its use could produce some unwanted side effects. Not all of these may occur, but if they do, you may require medical attention.

Consult with a healthcare professional right away if you suffer from any of the following side effects whilst taking Latanoprost:

Less common

Eyelid redness, crusting, swelling, pain or discomfort

Rare

Redness of eye or inside of eyelid

You should seek attention from your doctor right away if any you suffer from any of the following side effects.

More common

Blurred vision, tearing or eye irritation

Less common

Rare

Discharge from the eye

Some side effects that may occur with this drug usually don't require medical attention. You may find that these side effects begin to go away as your body starts adjusting to the medication. Your local pharmacist may also be able to give you advice on ways to reduce or prevent the intensity of these side effects. You should consult with your doctor if any of the following side effects become persistent or bothersome.

More common

Burning of eye

Less common

Dryness of eye

You may suffer from other side effects that are not listed above. You should seek advice from your doctor if you notice anything unusual. You may report any side effects you suffer from to the FDA on 1-800-FDA-1088.

Dosage

The final dose of this medicine will depend upon different factors. Your doctor will consider personal factors such as your weight, age, and height, any other medical conditions you suffer from any other medications you take to treat those conditions. They will also consider the strength of the medication, how long you are going to be on the medication and your reaction to the first dose. You should not change your dose without speaking with your doctor or a healthcare professional first. If you take too much of this medication you could increase your risk of side effects or if you take too little you could affect its ability to treat your condition. The following doses are only guidelines and your final dose may be different.

For ophthalmic solution dosage form for the treatment of hypertension of the eye or glaucoma.

Adults:

Use 1 eye drop in the affected eye or eyes once daily in the evening.

Children:

The final use and dose of this medication will be determined by a doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of Latanoprost, you need to take it as soon as you have realized. However, the exception to this is if it's almost time for your next dose. In this case, you should skip the dose you have missed and returned to your original dosing scheduled. Don't double your doses to make up for a missed dose.

Proper Use

If your doctor ordered 2 different eye drops to be used in combination, you should wait at least five minutes between the times you apply each medication. This will help prevent the second medicine from 'œwashing out'the first one.

It's important that your doctor monitors your eye pressure at regular appointments to ensure that your glaucoma is being well controlled.

You should remove contact lenses before using this medicine. You need to wait at least fifteen minutes after using the eye drops before putting them back in.

To use the eye drops:

Firstly you should wash your heads. Then, lift your head back and press your finger gently onto the skin just under your lower eyelid. Next, pull the lower part of the eyelid from the eye to create a small space. Then, drop your medication into the space you have created. Let go of your eyelid and close your eyes gently.

Don't blink. Keep your eyes closed and apply pressure to the inner corner of the eye with your finger for one or one minutes to allow the medication to be properly absorbed by the eye.

After using the eye drops, you should immediately wash your hands to remove any medication that could remain on them.

To help keep this medication germ-free, don't touch the applicator tip to any surface and keep the container closed tightly.

Interactions

Drug interactions can produce some unwanted side effects and reduce the use of this drug in its treatment. This drug can interact with a number of other drugs, so it's important that your doctor or healthcare professional is aware of all current and past medicine you are taking. This should include all over the counter drugs (prescription and nonprescription drugs), vitamin supplements and herbal remedies. You should also mention any other medical conditions you may suffer from as these too could increase the risk of interactions occurring. In most circumstances, your doctor will avoid treating you with this drug to limit interactions, however in some cases, it may still be the best treatment options for you.

Bimatoprost topical

Other medical conditions

The presence of other medical issues could affect the use of this medicine. Ensure you let your doctor know if you have any other medical conditions, especially:

Intraocular lens (IOL) replacement: The consumption of this drug could make patients more prone to an adverse reactions known as macular edema

Warnings

Before agreeing to take this medication, there are a number of things to take into consideration alongside the advice of your doctor. Some of these warnings and precautions are listed below.

Allergies

It's important to let your healthcare team know if you have ever suffered an allergic reaction to this medication or similar medications. You should also make your doctor aware of any other allergies you may suffer from including to preservatives, foods, dyes, and animals.

Pediatric population

Studies on this medication have only been conducted in adult patients, so, therefore, there is no specific information that compares the use of latanoprost in children with the use in other age groups.

Safety and efficacy have therefore not been established.

Geriatric population

Many medications have not been studied specifically the older population. Therefore, it's unknown whether they will work in exactly the same way as they do in the younger population. However, there is no specific information that compares the use of latanoprost in the elderly with the use in other age groups, this medication has been used mostly in older patients and it's not expected to cause any different problems or side effects in older people than it does in the younger population.

Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding

This drug is under FDA pregnancy category C. It's unknown whether this medication could cause harm to an unborn child. You should make sure your doctor or healthcare team know you are pregnant or if you are intending on becoming pregnant.

It is currently unknown whether latanoprost ophthalmic can pass into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. You should let your doctor or a healthcare professional know if you are breastfeeding.

While you are using this drug, the iris (colored part) of your treated eye may start to slowly become browner in color. This is more likely to happen if you have yellow-brown, gray-brown, blue-brown or green-brown eyes. The change in color of the iris is usually noticeable within several years or months from the beginning of treatment with latanoprost. There may also be a darkening of the color of the eyelid skin. Your eyelashes may also become longer, darker and thicker.

These changes to the eyelid, iris, and lashes could be permanent even if you stop using this drug. These changes to the eyelid, iris, and lashes will also affect only the eye that is being treated with latanoprost. So, if only one eye is being treated, then that will be the only eye that will notice changes to the iris, eyelashes, eyelid or other changes to the appearance of the eye. If you have any questions about this, you should discuss them with your doctor.

Latanoprost can cause your eyes to become more sensitive to light than normal. You can help lessen this discomfort by avoiding too much exposure to bright lights and wearing sunglasses when in bright light.

Storage

Latanoprost should be kept out of the reach of children. Dispose of medication you no longer need or has passed its expiry date. You should contact your local pharmacist for advice on the best method of disposal for medication you no longer required.

Before you open the bottle for the first time, you should keep it stored in the refrigerator. After you have opened the bottle, it needs to be stored at room temperature (up to 77 °F [ 25 °C]) for up to six weeks, or in the refrigerator.

Summary

When used as directed, Latanoprost is successful in the treatment of hypertension in the eye and certain types of glaucoma. You should only use this drug as directed by your doctor. Do not increase your dose without the advice from a healthcare professional as taking too much of this drug could increase your chance of severe side effects. This drug should not be used in those who are under eighteen years of age. You should let your doctor know if you are currently pregnant or hope to become pregnant whilst using this medication. You should also make them aware if you are currently breastfeeding. Ensure your hands are clean when handling this drug. You need to use this medication regularly so you can gain the most benefit from it. You should try to take this medication at the same time each day. Try using an alarm to help remember. It's important that you still take this medication even if you feel well. Do not share this drug with anyone else. If you require any further information about the practical uses of this medication or you require further information, then contact your local healthcare professional or doctor for more advice.

The information contained on this website is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Consultation with your doctor or healthcare professional is advised regarding any usage of this site. In the event of an emergency call 911.